Fuse guiding and mounting means



g- 12, 1952 J. J. KOJIS 2,606,949

FUSE GUIDING AND MOUNTING MEANS Filed April 29, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Jokiz JfiQ -j BY Aug. 1 1952 J. J. KOJIS FUSE GUIDING AND MOUNTING MEANS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 29, 1950 INVENTQR. BY Jo/zrz Jf gwj Aug. 2 1952 J. J. KOJIS 2,606,949

FUSE GUIDING AND MOUNTING MEANS Filed April 29, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Aug. 12, 1952 FUSE GUIDING AND MOUNTING MEANS John J. Kojis, Chicago, 111., assignor a s a c Electric Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application April 29, 1950, Serial No. 159,026

This invention .relates, generally, to fuse mountings, and it has particular relation to the mounting of high voltage liquid fuses arranged to be handled by a switch stick.

A fuse mounting of this general character is disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,147,316, issued February 14, 1939, in the name of Allan Ramsey, and assignedto'the assignee of this application. In this patent there is disclosed a suspension fitting that is clamped to the upper ferrule of a high voltage liquid fuse. The fitting has oppositely extending trunnions that are arranged to interfit with notches in a bracket that is carried by an insulator mounted on a suitable support structure. Contact with the ferrule is made by jaws that are cammed into engagement therewith. The fuse tube is provided with one or more ferrules and contact therewith is made in like manner. For each contact it is necessary to operate a lever to cam the jaws into or out of engagement with the associated ferrule. While this construction is satisfactory, it is complicated and expensive. Its use is justified only where ampere rating is high and the expense involved is warranted by the importance of the installation. Because of these disadvantages this particular form of mounting has not gone into as widespread use as might have been the case had it been less complicated and less expensive.

Among the objects of this invention are: To Provide an improved, efiicient and economical mounting for a tubular fuse, such as a liquid fuse, which can be handled readily by a conventional switch stick; to provide for suspending the fuse independently of the switch stick in such a position that it does not complete a circuit and cannot accidentally complete the circuit; to require thata separate movement of the switch stick be made to 'swingthefuse into circuit closing position; to guidetheffuse while itis being moved into theposition where it is suspended independently of the switch stick and to accomplish this even though the fuse'is released from the switch stick before it reaches the temporary open circuit position; to locate the pivot point of the fuse and guide the fuseso that the ferrule on the upper end does not overridethe upper fuse clip; to obtain this result by causing the ferrule to engage the fuse clip from the front; to prevent the fuse from moving longitudinally upwardly while it is beingmoved inwardly; and to provide for detachab-ly mounting a support on the fuse carrying an eye member that cooperates with a hook member associated with the upper fuse clip.

' 8 Claims. (01. its-32s Other objects of this invention will, in part, be obvious and in part appear hereinafter.

This invention i disclosed in the embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawings and it comprises the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of this invention, reference may be hadto the following detailed description, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in-

Figure 1 is a view, in side elevation, of a fuse mounting in which the present invention is embodied, the fuse being shown as being supported by the prong of a switch stick with the eye member of the mounting placed over the approach section of the hook member that is mounted on the same mounting bracket that carries the upper fuse clip;

Figure 2 is a view, in front elevation, of the hook member, a portion of the fuse clip associated therewith beingbrok-en away in order to show how the hook member is secured in position;

Figure 3 is a view, in front elevation, of the suspension eye assembly;

Figure 4 is a view, similar to Figure 1, showing only the upper portion of the insulator, illustrating how the eye member slides from the approach section onto the guide section of the hook member on withdrawal of the prong ofthe switch. stick from the ring member of the suspension eye;

Figure 5 is .a view similar to Figure 1 but shows how the fuse is held in a temporary position by engagement of the eye member with the hinge section of the hook member, the prong of the switch stick being shown inposition for swing ing the fuse to the closed positionyand Figurefi is a View, in side elevation, ofthe fuse in closed position in which the mounting is construe-ted in accordance with this invention.

Referring. now particularly'to Figure 1 of the drawings, it will be observed that the reference character I!) designates an insulator which is arranged to be supported in a vertical position by a support bracket H that extends centrally thereof, as shown more clearly inFigure 6. The insulator It has upper and lower mounting brackets i2 and I3 and the assembly is con structed generally in accordance with that disclosed in the copending application of Charles H. Baker, Serial No. 16,268, filed March 22,1948, and

3 assigned to the assignee of this application. However, it will be understood that other insulated supports can be employed and mounted in positions inclined to the vertical Without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

It will be observed that the brackets l2 and I3 carry upper and lower fuse terminal brackets 14 and respectively. Bolts l5 and I1 serve to hold the brackets l4 and 15 in place. The terminal brackets l4 and 15 are provided with transversely extending apertures t8 and 9 for receiving line conductors therein. Set screws and 2! serve to clamp the line conductors securely in good conducting relation to the brackets M and I5 in the apertures l3 and [9.

At their outer ends the terminal brackets M and i5 carry upper and lower fuse clips 22 and 23. They may be constructed as shown in United States Patent No. 1,665,446, issued April 10, 1928, in the name of N. J. Conrad. Bolts 24 and 25 eX- tend through the terminal brackets l4 and I5 for securing the fuse clips 22 and 23 in position thereon. As shown in Figure 2, two bolts are provided'for securing each fuse clip in position.

The fuse clips 22 and 23 are arranged to receive a high voltage liquid fuse which may be of the type disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,091,430, issued Augustiil, 1937, in the name of N. J. Conrad. The fuse includes a glass tube 3| having upper and lower ferrules 32 and 33 at its ends which constitute the terminals of the fus 30. A cap 34 closes the upper end of the fuse tube 3! and is arranged to be blown off in the event that sufficient pressure is developed within the fuse 39 under certain circuit interrupting conditions. The lower end of the fuse 30 is arranged to reacta'gainst a stop member 35 that is carried by the lower fus tub terminal bracket l5. The stop member 35' provides a resilient suspension and prevents the fuse 35 from being blown downwardly when it operates to interrupt the circuit, particularly under severe overload conditions where considerable downward force is developed.

Insofar as the present invention is concerned, the apparatus thus far described is known in the prior art. There has been a definite requirement that economical provision be made for handling high voltage fuses such'as the liquid fuse 30 on lightly loaded circuits by means of a switch stick in such manner that the fuse can be first suspended from one line terminal and then moved into engagement with the other line terminal. For such applications it is not feasible to employ separate disconnecting switches to deenergize the line so as to permit replacement of the fuse. It is undesirable to handle fuses of this type with various gripping means which have been provided. Ratherit isfpreferable to arrange the mounting sothatit canbe manipulated by a conventional switch stick. Also it is desirable to provide'such a mounting for the fuse that it can be positioned temporarily in an open circuit position where it requires a further positive movement on the part of the lineman for closing the circuit.v The fuse clips 22 and 23, while conventional, possess a considerable degree of resiliency which is employed for providing good electrical contact with the ferrules 32 and 33. It is necessary to spread the arms of the fuse clip 22 and 23 apart when the ferrules 32 and 33 are inserted therein. This makes it unnecessary to provide additional separately operated clamping means for insuring the desired contact engagement with the ferrules 32 and 33.

With a View to providing a mounting which will take care of these various factors a hook member, shown generally at 38 in Figures 1 and 2, is employed. The hook member 38 is of generally inverted U-shape and is formed preferably of Phosphor bronze wire having a diameter of .162 inch. At its outer end the hook member 38 has a wedge shaped approach" section 39 which is connected to a guide section '40 and, as shown in Figure 1, is inclined slightly thereto away from th projection of the plane thereof. The guide section 40 extends from a hinge section 4! so that the latter extends generally in the same direction as does the approach section 39 and is more nearly horizontal. The hinge section 4! at its lower end terminates in shoulders 42 the function of which will be set forth presently. The lower portions of the arms of the U-shaped hook member 38 constitute a support section 43 and they converge at the lower ends where eyelets 44 are provided through which the bolts 24 project for fastening securely the hook member 38 in position at the bottom of the. upper fuse clip 22. It will be understood that the hook member'38 can be fastened to the upper fuseterminal bracket [4 separately from the fuse clip 22 if desired. A11 that is required is that the hook member 38 be securely fastened at its lower end in a position which is fixedrelative to the upper fuse clip 22. I

Cooperating withthe hook member 38is a suspension eye assembly that is illustrated, generally, at '41 in Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings. The suspension eye assembly includes an inverted U-shaped eye member, shown generally at 48, that is formed of the same size and kind of wire as the hook member 38. The eye member 48 has a straight central portion 49 which is arranged to slide over the sections 39, 40, and 4i and the depending sides 50 approach closely the outer margins of the guide and hinge sections 40 and 41'. Because of this relationship the fuse 30 is maintained in a generally vertical position while the straight central portion 49 slides over the upper surface of the hook member 38.

The eye member 48 has the portions 5| below the sides 5|] converging so that upward longitudinal movement of the eye assembly 47 and the fuse 30 is limited by engagement of the upper ends of the converging portions 5| with the under side of the guide and hinge sections 40 and 4| of the hook member 38. The lower ends of the converging portions 5i continue as vertical sections 52 which, as shown in Figure 1, are inclined slightly away from the plane containing the portions 5!, sides 59, and the straight central portion 49. These vertical sections 52 are secured in the ends of a spring clip 55 that is formed of a strip of resilient conducting material suchas Phosphor bronze and is arranged to surround the major portion of the upper ferrule 32. The ends 56 of the spring clip 55 are bent around the vertical sections 52 and are securely held thereto by being deformed by a suitable punch as indicated at 51. Arcuate deformations 58 ar located at the lower edge of the spring clip55 on opposite sides for the purpose of interfitting on the underside of the upper ferrule 32 and accurately positioning the spring clip 55 thereon.

When the suspension eye assembly 47 moves from the position shown in Figure 4 to that shown in Figure 5, the converging portions 5| cross under the sides of the guide section 43 and thereby prevent inward movement of the upper ferrule 32 until it is down in front of the upper fuse clip 22. The straight portion 49 and converging sides 5l in combination with the converging portions 5i cooperate with the guide section 40 to limit vertical longitudinal movement of the fuse and prevent the upper ferrule 32 from hanging up on the upper fuse clip 22.

In order to permit manipulation of the suspension eye assembly 41 and the fuse 30 carried thereby by a conventional switch stick, ring members 59 are employed. Th ring members 59 preferably constitute extensions of the vertical sections 52 and, as shown in Figure 1, are shaped to provide a ring-like configuration for receiving a prong 60 of a switch stick 6| formed of suitable insulating material such as wood.

In describing the functioning of the fuse mounting means disclosed herein it will be assumed that the fuse 30, as shown in Figure 1, is to be placed in the fuse clips 22 and 23. It is supported by the prong 60 of the switch stick 6| in the position shown and the suspension eye assembly 41 is moved so that the opening therein is passed beyond the outer end'of the wedge shaped approach section 32 of the hook member 38. Ordinarily the fuse 36 will be permitted to fall under the influence of gravity while the prong 60 supports it'until the straight central portion 49 reaches the outer end of the hinge section M as shown in Figure 5. However, it is unnecessary for the switch stick 6| to be so manipulated and the prong 60 can be removed from the ring members 59 as soon as the eye member 48 has passed beyond the outer end of the wedge shaped approach section 39. The fuse and the suspension eye assembly 41 will then fall solely under the influence of gravity and willbe guided so that the fuse 30 is maintained in a generally vertical position because of the length of the straight central portion 49 and the guiding action provided thereby and by the depending sides 56 in cooperation with the sides of the guide and hinge sections: and 4 I. This guiding action is illustrated in Figure 4 where the eye member 48 is shown as leaving the approach section 39 and riding down the guide section 40. The suspension eye assembly 4! and the fuse 30 will stop in the general position shown in Figure 5 where the straight central portion 49 is located on the hinge section 4| where it joins the guide section 40. In this position the upper ferrule 32 or the spring clip engages the upper fuse clip- 22. It will be observed that this engagement takes place near the lower edge of the fuse clip 22. This is important for this relationship prevents the upper ferrule 32 from riding above the upper fuse clip 22 by causing it to engage the same from a position underneath when the prong Gil of the switch stick BI is placed, as shown in Figure 5, against the outer side of the fuse 30 and is moved toward the insulator i0 so as to swing the fuse 30 about the hinge section H as a pivot point. It will be understood that the upper ferrule 32 and the spring clip 55 thereon move into engagement with the upper fuse clip 22 from the front as the fuse 30 is swung in a clockwise direction so as to bring the lower ferrule 33 into engagement with the lower fuse clip 23.

Another important advantage of the positioning of the hinge section 4| as described is to hold the fuse 30 in the position illustrated in Figure 5 where there is asubstantial air'gap between the lower fuse clip 23 and the lower ferrule 33. If it should happen to be the case'that the fault still exists on the circuit which is to be closed by the placing of thefuse-30 in engagementwith the fuse clips 22 and 23, then there is no likelihood of the lower ferrule 3 accidentallyengaging the lower fuse clip 23; It requires a separate and positive action on :the part of the lineman to swing the fuse 30 to the circuitclosed position shown in Figure 6. "Y i J It was pointed out hereinbeforethat shoulders 42 are employed at the lower end of the hinge section 4|. Their functionis to" prevent the-eye member48 from being positioned any further along the hook member 38 than the lower' end of the hinge section 4l. This' 'insures-that the eye member 48 will be positioned somewhere along the hinge section 4|. The particular position therealong is determined by the spacing and shapes of the various cooperating parts. Substantial tolerances are permitted in the configuration of the hook member 38 and of the suspension eye assembly 41 as well as in the positioning of the fuse clips 22 and 23. L

When the fuse 30 is to be removed from its position in the fuse clips as shown in Figure 6, the prong of the switch stick Gl-is positioned on the'inner side of the fuse 30 and it is swung in a counterclockwise direction to disengage the fuse clips 22 and 23. plied to overcome'the' spring tension of the fuse clips 22 and 23 to remove the ferrules. 32 and 33 therefrom. After the fuse 3D has been removed from the fuse clips 22 and '23, it occupies the position illustrated in Figure 5.2 :Then the prong 60 can be inserted in the ring members 59:and the eye assembly 41 together with the fuse Silcan be lifted out of engagement with the hook member 38. t r t It will be noted that the portions of the hook member 38 which constitute the support section 43 are spaced relatively'far apart. Thusthere is no interference with theremovall of the cap 34 or the discharge of the contents of the ,:fuse 30 upwardly. y

Since certain further changes can be made in the foregoing construction and different embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit andscope thereof, it is intendedthat all matter shown in the accompanying drawings and described hereinbefore shall be interpreted as illustrativenand not in a limiting sense. Y

What is claimed as new iszl l 1. Means for mounting a tubular fuse having ferrules at its ends in fuseiclips disposed in insulated spaced relation one above the other come prising, in combination, a hook member extending outwardly and upwardly above the upper fuse clip and having a hinge section-intermediate its ends, andan eye member extending upwardly from the upper fuse tube ferrule for interfitting with said hook member and engaging said hinge section thereof whereby the application of force to the fuse causes it to swing about said hinge section as a pivot and thereby its ferrules to be moved into or out of engagement with the fuse clips.

2. Means for mounting a tubular fuse having ferrules at its ends in fuse clips disposed in insulated spaced relation one above the other comprising, in combination, a hook'member extending outwardly and upwardly above the upper fuse clip and having a hinge section intermediate its ends, and an eye member extending upwardly from the upper fuse tube ferrule for interfitting with said hook member and engaging saidhinge section thereof whereby the application of force'to Sufficient pressure is apthe fuse causes it to swingjabout said-hinge Sec-j tion .as a pivot and thereby its ferrules to be moved into or out of engagementwith thezfuse clips, the sides'of said hook member over which said eye member is passed being spaced apart and the upper end of said eye member being straight with the depending sides thereof extending in close proximity to said sides of'said hinge section to maintain the fuse in an upright position.

3. Means for mounting a:tubular fuse having ferrules at its ends in fuse clips disposed in insulated spaced relation one above the other comprising, in combination, a hook member extending outwardly and upwardlyabove the upper fuse clip and having a hinge section intermediate its ends, and an eye'member'extending upwardly from the upper fuse tube ferrule for interfitting with said hook member andengaging said hinge section thereof whereby the application of force to the fuse causes it to swing about'said hinge section as a pivot and thereby its ferrules to be moved into or out of engagement with the fuse clips, the sides of said hook member over which said eye member is passed, being spaced apart and the upper end of said eye member being straight with the depending sides thereof extending in close proximity to said sides of said hinge section to maintainthe fuse in an upright position, and said depending sides of said eye member converging underneath said hook memher to limit the extent of upward longitudinal movement of thefuse, said converging depend ing sides of said eye member and said hook member cooperating to limit the angular movement of the fuse in the vertical plane thereby preventing its engagement with the lower fuse clip and guiding said eye member into operative relation with said hinge section.

4. Means for mounting a tubular fusehaving ferrules at its ends in fuse clips disposed in insulated spaced relation one above the other comprising, in combination, a hook member extending outwardly and upwardlyabove the upper fuse clip and having a hinge section intermediate its ends, and an eye member'extending upwardly.

from the upper fuse tube ferrule for interfitting with said hook member and engagingsaid hinge section thereof whereby the application of force to the fuse causes it to swing about'said hinge section as a pivot and thereby its ferrules tO'bBf moved into or out of engagement with the fuse clips, said hinge section being so located that the lower fuse tube ferrule is spaced from the lower fuse clip when said eye member and the -asso ciated fuse'are supported by said hinge section and the upper fuse clip.

5. Means for mounting a tubular fuse having ferrules at its ends in fuse clips disposed in insulated spaced relation one above the other comprising, in combination, a hookmember extending outwardly and upwardly above the upper fuse clip and having a hinge section intermediate its ends, a spring clip detachably gripping the upper fuse tube ferrule, a ring member extending outwardly from said spring clip for receiving a prong of a switch stick, and an eye member extending upwardly and outwardly from said spring clip on the outer side ofthe fuse for interfitting with said hook member and engaging said hinge section thereof whereby the application of force to one side or the other of the fuse by the switch stick prong causes it to swing about said hinge section as a pivot and thereby its ferrules to be moved into or out of engagement with the fuse clips. U Y

6. Mounting means comprising; in combination; an insulator, a fuse clip carried by said insulator, a fuse tube having a ferrule at its upper end engaged by said fuse clip and held in an upright position; a hook member extending outwardly and upwardly above said fuse clip and having a wedge shaped approach section at its outer end, a guide section joining said approach section, and a hinge section joining said guide section; a support detachably secured to said fuse tube ferrule, a ring member extending outwardly from said support for receiving a prong of a switch stick; and an eye member extending upwardly and outwardly from said support for interfitting with said hook member by sliding over the same and having the upper end straight with the depending sides thereof extending in close proximity to the sides of said guide and hinge sections to maintain said fuse tube in the upright position, said approach section directing said eye member onto said guide section, the application of force to one side or the other of said fuse tube by the switch stick prong causing said fuse tube to swing about said hinge section as a pivot and thereby said ferrule to be moved into or out of engagement with said fuse clip.

7. Mounting means comprising, in combination, a vertically disposed insulator, fuse clips at the upper and lower ends of said insulator, a fuse tube having ferrules at its ends engaged by said fuse clips and held in an upright position; a hook member extending outwardly and upwardly above the upper fuse clip and having a wedge shaped approach section at its outer end, a guide section joining said approach section, a hinge section joining said guide section, and shoulders joining said hinge section to a support section fastened to said upper fuse clip; a spring clip detachably gripping the upper fuse tube ferrule, a ring member extending outwardly from said spring clip for receiving a prong of a switch stick; and an eye member extending upwardly and outwardly from said spring clip on the outer side of said fuse tube for interfitting with said hook member by sliding over the same and having the upper end straight with the depending sides thereof extending in close proximity to the sides of said guide and hinge sections to maintain said fuse tube in the upright position, said depending sides of said eye member converging underneath said hook member to limit the extent of upward longitudinal movement of said fuse tube, said approach section directing said eye member onto said guide section, and said shoulders preventing movement of said eye member therepast, the application of force to one side or the other of said fuse tube by the switch stick prong causing said fuse tube to swing about said hinge section as a pivot and thereby its ferrules to be moved into or out of engagement with said fuse clips.

8. Mounting means comprising, in combination, a vertically disposed insulator, fuse clips at the upper and lower ends of said insulator, a fuse tube having ferrules at its ends engaged by said fuse clips and held in an upright position; a hook member extending outwardly and upwardly above the upper fuse clip and having a wedge shaped approach section at its outer end, a guide section joining said approach section, a

hinge section joining said guide section, and

shoulders joining said hinge section to a support section fastened to said upper fuse clip; a spring clip detachably gripping the upper fuse tube ferrule, a ring member extending outwardly from said spring clip for receiving 9, prong of a switch stick; and an eye member extending upwardly and outwardly from said spring clip on the outer side of said fuse tube for interfitting with said hook member by sliding over the same and having the upper end straight with the depending sides thereof extending in close proximity to the sides of said guide and hinge sections to maintain said fuse tube in the upright position, said depending sides of said eye member converging underneath said hook member to limit the extent of upward longitudinal movement of said fuse tube, said approach section directing said eye member onto said guide section, said shoulders preventing movement of said eye member therepast, and said hinge section being so located that said upper fuse tube ferrule enters said upper fuse clip from underneath and the lower fuse tube ferrule is spaced from the lower fuse clip when said eye member and said fuse tube are supported by said hinge section and said upper fuse clip, the application of force to one side or 10 the other of said fuse tube by the switch stick prong causing said fuse tube to swing about said hinge section as a pivot and thereby its ferrules to be moved into or out of engagement with said fuse clips.

JOHN J. KOJIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,665,446 Conrad Apr. 10, 1928 1,684,166 Austin Sept. 11, 1928 1,978,076 Cassedy, Jr Oct. 23, 1934 2,091,430 Conrad Aug. 31, 1937 2,147,316 Ramsey Feb. 14, 1939 2,198,841 Pittman et a1. Apr. 30, 1940 2,269,993 Schmitt Jan. 13, 1942 2,461,616 Walter Feb. 15, 1949 

